-------------------- Begin Original Message -------------------- Message text written by INTERNET:BRADLEY-L@rootsweb.com "One of the things that I tell myself, makes no difference if we are Laurence Wisdom or John Wisdom we have the same linnage it is the next marriage we have to worry about. >smile< This is one of the first artical about the Bradleys of Wilkes and Caldwell County that has given me one of the first clues to the the earlier generations." Pat -------------------- End Original Message -------------------- Pat and all, I have something to contribute but not as far back in time as your article, Pat. While Wendell Bradley's book has my Richard 1765 Bradley as married to Abadiah Tompkins, I believe he claims this was the Greene County, GA, Richard. But, I believe the Greene Co. Richard died there and left a will, whereas I have loose proof that Richard 1765 was the one listed in Glynn Co., GA, in the "reconstructed" censuses. (I have no idea where James 1743 Bradley was supposed to have been in Georgia at this time.) But I DO believe that Richard married Abadiah Tompkins, though some researchers claim Abadiah Dickey. My gleanings follow: In a letter dated May 9, 1930, from Ethel Bradley Jarman, of Pittsville, MO, to Mr. Seth Bradley of Denver, Colorado, (Page 3), she states, "Mrs. Grizzard [descendant of John D. Bradley] wrote me that she had heard her mother say that either great uncle Jackie [John D. Bradley 1788-1868, son of Richard T. 1765 Bradley] or great grandfather spent some their childhood or part of their boyhood on an island along the coast of Georgia, she thought near the mouth of the Altamaha River. Said she could not remember which her mother said it was......" Richard's first three sons, John, Richard, and James were born in GA. By the time his fourth son, and Ethel Jarman's grandfather, [Tompkins Bradley 1801-1886] was born the family was in Sumner County, TN. From the reconstructed censuses for Glynn County, GA, a Capt. Richard Bradley collected taxes in his district, which was located on St. Simons Island at the mouth of the Altimaha River, from 1790 to 1794. And Finally, from "Our Todays and Yesterdays" by Margaret Davis Cate, 1979, Page 195, TOMPKINS FORT " .....One of the settlers, John Tompkins, a Virginian by birth, established his home on a plantation on Turtle River, where he erected for his protection, a large fort, two hundred feet square. In the spring of 1789, John Tompkins' plantation "was attacked by a party of Indians of the Creek Nation" who burned the dwelling house, the stable and crib, the overseer's house, the kitchen, the school house, five Negro houses, a small dwelling, and the fort and carried off two horses. Britain Bunkley, who lived on St. Simons at that time was one of a party of men who went to the rescue of the besieged party. He said, "The fort was then evacuated by Capt. Tompkins and others and soon after the fort with all the buildings was destroyed by fire." ...... John Tompkins was a Captain in the Glynn County Militia. He either died, or removed, from the county in 1791. I believe this is where my Richard met Abadiah Tompkins (not as common name as Bradley) but I haven't been able to prove it. Perhaps someone out there in "BRADLEY LAND" can help. Gary Bradley